The spotlight shines on a special handler and dog. Braelyn Cross had never heard of agility until she was in college and got involved in a unique program at Iowa State University. The ACE project helps rescue dogs while exposing students to the wonderful world of dog sports. It is run by Dr. Cheryl Morris, who is a League captain! Braelyn’s dog is a rescue who had a rough start in life. Together, they are making agility magic, running on league teams based at ISU, earning titles, and competed at the AKC Agility League Championship. And Braelyn, who graduated from ISU with a degree in animal science, just sent in her application for veterinary school!
Call Name: Splash
Breed: Border Collie
Dog’s Age: 7 years
Registered name: No Mermaids Allowed OA AXJ OAP OJP CGC TKN
Owner name: Braelyn Cross
City/State: Ames, IA
League team names and divisions: ISU Don’t Go Bacon My Heart- Limited Senior and ISU Eggstra Special- Limited Senior
How did you discover agility and get involved in the sport? Please include how the ACE program figured into this and what the program is.
I discovered agility as a college student through Dr. Cheryl Morris and her amazing ACE Project. At the time, I had my own dog Kash involved and taking class in the ACE Project and started to train him in agility.
The Ace Project is a class in the Animal Science department that’s designed to encompass all things dog. Students that take this elective class get hands-on experience with training obedience, tricks, agility, service dog work, etc. The dogs of the ACE project are made up of fosters from Midlands Humane Society, service dogs in training from Retrieving Freedom, and student-owned dogs.
The Ace Project gets its name from a black and white border collie named Ace. He was a foster, trained in multiple disciplines, was a great agility dog, and was a service dog for Dr. Morris’s late husband Danny.
When and how did you adopt Splash? Do you know anything about her past life?
Splash was found as a stray running in the Council Bluffs/Omaha area. Dr. Morris acquired Splash through the Midlands Humane Society as a foster. Splash had severe separation anxiety and very low confidence. Dr. Morris worked tirelessly with her to get her through the anxiety and got her to come out of her shell. Splash was making great progress and then became a “foster fail” for Dr. Morris.
While I was working hard at training Kash in agility and hoping to get him started trialing, he just wasn’t quite ready. So, Dr. Morris had Splash, whom she had previously trained and obtained some agility titles on. One night, Dr. Morris brought Splash with her to class and let me try running a course with Splash. I wanted to feel what it was truly like to run a dog through a course. And holy buckets… that was HARD! I didn’t think agility would be SO complicated! But…I was hooked, and I just wanted to try again and again.
Dr. Morris continued to bring Splash to our Wednesday night agility classes and let me try the weekly course with the competition outreach class. After more than a few classes in May 2023, Dr. Morris and I decided I was ready for my first trial. We agreed to start back at Novice Preferred as I was definitely not ready to start at Excellent/Masters level, and it would be a fresh slate for both of us!
A short time after the first trial, Dr. Morris came to me with an idea that would change everything. Splash had been, of course, living with Dr. Morris, and Dr. Morris would bring her to class or to trials for me and then take her home afterwards. With that, came some struggles with Splash searching for Dr. Morris when I was trying to train in class or compete in the ring.
So, Dr. Morris asked me one night if I wanted to take Splash and have her as my own. She also explained that she had another foster, Flurry, at home and she was more than likely going to become a permanent resident. She explained that while she was housing both, there wouldn’t be enough room for both in the long term.
I was kind of dumbfounded. My agility trainer and professor asked me if I wanted her awesome dog?!? I felt unbelievably honored. I told her I would talk to my now-husband Cody about it and let her know. Cody and I decided to give it a try. Splash started to stay with us a few days before a trial and then would go back to Dr. Morris. That cycle happened a few more times before I went to Dr. Morris and was ready to make it official. She just fit in so well, and we loved having her. The rest is history!
What is Splash like to train and run in agility?
Splash is an absolute powerhouse and just a joy to train and run with. She has relentless energy and is just so happy to be doing anything I’m doing. We are two peas in a pod!
But quite honestly, Splash is the one training me! I still have so much more to learn, and she is just right there with me, ready to go again when I mess up (which is a lot )! I could not be more thankful that she continues to help me learn.
What are some of your achievements?
As I look back, we went from barely being able to do a Novice course to earning some legs in Excellent within a single year. We also got to go to the second Agility League Championship this year, which is our first national event! We had a blast!!
But what I am truly most proud of is the unbreakable bond we have created. It’s the best feeling to be connected with your dog. She never fails to put a smile on my face.
What do you like best about the League program and how has it helped you with Splash?
What I truly love about the League program is that you can keep retrying until you get a clean run or a faster time. I learn best with repetition, and this program has helped tremendously with handling skills. This program has many various training opportunities and challenges in each course!
What are your future goals in the sport of agility?
Some goals that I have are to continue to grow into being a great handler, become more consistent with each run, and to continue to have fun and enjoy the game. Playing this game with my dogs will never get old!
Some big picture goals are to get a PACH with Splash as well as qualify for NAC and compete at NAC!
Anything else you want to add?
I want to thank Dr. Morris for introducing me to agility and taking a chance on me. Without her and The Ace Project, I would’ve never known about agility. I also want to thank Karen Moore, Terry Ryan, and everyone else who has had a hand in making Splash and me a better team. We appreciate it more than you know!